Global Cocktail of the Week: The American Cincinnatus from Maple & Pine Bar in Richmond

Each week, we'll scour the world for a different cocktail and tell you how to get in on the spirits-filled fun at home. This week, in honor of the presidential primaries, we’ve visited Virginia—dubbed “The Birthplace of Presidents”—for a modern combination of vintage ingredients.

One of Virginia’s most famous native sons (and the first POTUS), George Washington, serves as the inspiration for this aperitif from Maple & Pine bar at Quirk Hotel in downtown Richmond, Virginia. It turns out, the Founding Father's booze of choice was Madeira wine. He loved it so much that his Mount Vernon Estate frequently stored several “pipes” or large vessels, each holding more than 100 glasses.

Apple brandy or “Apple Jack” was another popular beverage in the colonial and revolutionary periods, often produced in fall and winter using freeze a distillation method known as “Jacking.” At Quirk's Maple & Pine Bar, beverage manager Paul Ianniello has built a cocktail program that respects and references the local lore and history of Central Virginia. The result is a menu peppered with modern, interesting versions of classic drinks.

“In the American Cincinnatus, apple brandy, Madeira, and dry vermouth combine for a classic, boozy-yet-balanced cocktail,” notes Ianniello. “ I would imagine a reincarnated George Washington would love to be able to sip on as he tried to relax in the midst of a brutal two-year modern election cycle while dealing with the 24-hour news media.” Sip yours while watching this year's primary results come in: Even if your favorite candidate doesn’t come out on top, you’re at least guaranteed a tasty cocktail.